Brent and Odele Hawkins

From left, Brent and Odele Hawkins, pose for a picture during The Blackboard Affair (benefitting WITS, "Working in the Schools") at the Chicago Cultural Center on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Chicago.

From left, Brent and Odele Hawkins, pose for a picture during The Blackboard Affair (benefitting WITS, "Working in the Schools") at the Chicago Cultural Center on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Chicago. (Joel Wintermantle, Chicago Tribune)

From left, Brent and Odele Hawkins, pose for a picture during The Blackboard Affair (benefitting WITS, "Working in the Schools") at the Chicago Cultural Center on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Chicago.Joel Wintermantle, Chicago Tribune